The Ghosts of Glevum (31 page)

The entertainment over, it was time to go, and Junio was sent to fetch my cloak. He came, together with Gwellia’s new slave – the female one she’d always wanted. This was a present from Julia, really meant for me.

‘Are you ready, mistress?’ Cilla said, helping my wife with her hood. ‘I have a torch waiting. It’s very dark outside.’

‘It’s very well for you, Libertus,’ said Gaius grumpily. ‘You’ve only got a little way to walk. The rest of us have got to go home in a litter in the rain. It’s colder than the Styx out there tonight.’

I had to laugh. So much had happened since the banquet. But I had my wife and roundhouse back, and Gwellia was dyeing and spinning once again. Marcus had provided a new loom. I did not grudge the miller’s wife the other one – nor the axe that Molendinarius had gained. Those were perhaps the best rewards that I could give them, in the circumstances, and I had seen that Tullio was paid in coin.

I looked at Junio walking down the path. He was chattering to Cilla as he went, and Gwellia turned to chide them. But I saw the look that passed between the slaves and smiled.

Everything was going to be all right.